Tables for playing games

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a table for playing a game with a plurality of balls normally used one at a time in which there is a storage space for all the balls after they have been lost from play. A lifting component mounted between pivoted supporting arms adapted to be rocked by a mechanism, e.g., a pull-rod, operable from outside the table is located in the base of the storage space. This component is raised by said mechanism to lift all the balls assembled therein and deliver them simultaneously to a higher intermediate surface. The balls pass from this surface to a device actuable to deliver the balls one by one to a yet higher playing surface.

United States Patent Barnes June 24, 1975 1 TABLES FOR PLAYING GAMES [76] Inventor: Derek Leonard Barnes, 600 fgififiglfigggg? :3

Halstead Enfield England Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Young & Thompson [22] Filed: Jan. 11, 1974 1 PP Flo-143L632 57 ABSTRACT The invention relates to a table for playing a game Fmelgn Application ty Data with a plurality of balls normally used one at a time in Jan. 25. 1973 United Kingdom 3733/73 which there is a storage space for all the balls after they have been lost from play. A lifting component [52] US. Cl 194/1 R; 273/1 1 C; 273/125 mounted between pivoted supporting arms adapted to [51] Int. Cl. G07f 17/32 be rocked by a mechanism, e.g., a pull-rod. operable [58] Field of Search 194/D1G. l1, 1 R, 30, 41, from outside the table is located in the base of the 9 /50, 273/1 1 C storage space. This component is raised by said mechanism to lift all the balls assembled therein and deliver [56] References Cited them simultaneously to a higher intermediate surface. TED STATES PATENTS The balls pass from this surface to a device actuable to 1 980 125 11/1934 Whitney 194/D1G. 11 deliver the balls one by one a yet higher Playing 1,992,658 2 1935 Gensburg 273/121 E Surface- 2.453,976 11/1948 Durant et 211.... 273/122 R 2863.667 12/1958 Batts 273 122 R 13 Clams, 4 Drawing Flgul'es 1 TABLES FOR PLAYING GAMFS This invention relates to tablesfor playing games. e.g.. for simulatinga game oflfootbalLand more especially to tables in which a ball or balls is/are necessary for a game. and can be brought into use only by insertion ofa coin or token. v

The present invention coin,

a game with a plurality of balls normally used one at'a time. comprising a Stor age..spaCe for all the balls after they have been lost from play. andmeans for transferring all the balls simultaneously to a'higher. intermediate. surface on which the balls pass to a device actuab le to deliver the balls one by one to ayet higher playing surface.

The means for raising all the balls to th e.intermediate surface may be inoperable until released by insertion'of a coinor tokcninto the table The intermediate surface may be inclined and/or provided with guides. to direct the, balls under gravitational fforce. to 'the means wherebythey may be delivered one by one to the'playing su-rface.;The last mentioned delivery means may comprise a piston in a cylinder having an aperture through which a ball can enter thecylinder'above the.

piston which thereafter lifts the ball to a delivery 'point in or adjacent to the playing surface. The piston may be acted upon by .a spring to lift it for delivery ofa ball, and the spring may serve as a sto to prevent another ball entering the cylinder until the piston is again depressed. The playing surface may have one or more apc'rtu res through which'a b. 11 p s 'p y.

, nected to thelowermost storage space by one or more inclined passages 'along which a ball put outof play rolls under gravitational force to the storage space.

.The invention will be clearly understood from the following description of one form (given. however. merely by way of example) which it may'ass'ume; andthis description will be more readilyfollowed by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein I FIG. 1 represents a plan view ofa table in accordance 'sts in a table for playing wallsof thebox. extending beyond the two goal apertures. The bases of the channels formed between the partitions 6 and 5. and the walls of the box are downwardly inclined from the goal apertures to the storage space. so that balls passing out of play at the goal run down. under gravitysto the storage space. (FIG. 1). The'base of the storage space is provided with a block or platform 7, having a stepped recess 8. If desired the storage space may have a middle partition to separate balls coming in from the different goals. and allow the score to'be checked by inspection of the storage space through a glass roof at, or side wall window beneath. the playing surface level. I

A higher. intermediate surface is formed by a block or floor 9 of substantially T-shape, of which the crosslirnb is mounted between the inner surface of the partition in front of the storage space. and an inner wall I 10 (FIG. 2) which extends upwards above the intermediat'e surface 9. The middle limb of the T-shaped floor 9 extends transversely of the table (FIG. 1). and has a convergent side-walls 11. to guide balls to the opposite .side of the table. the floor 9 being downwardly inclined from the cross-limb to the other side of the table in order that balls .on this floor surface will be urged by gravityto run down the convergent passage on the middle limb.

I As explained above balls passing out of play automatcured to the wall 10. the rod having a projection. 14

connected by a link 15 to a pull-rod 16 mounted in the I opposite side-w all 2 of the table and being accessible with theim'ention from which the playing surface is re- .moved'.

FIG. 2 represents a'n enlarged sectional elevation in the plane Af-A of FIG. 1: and

FIGS. 3 and 4 represent enlarged sectional elevations in the plane BB of FIG. 1. respectively just before,

and when. a ball is being delivered to the playing surface for use.

In carrying the invention into effect in one convenient manner. as shown in the aforesaid drawings, when applied to a table for playing a simulated game of football. the table is of rectangular box construction with a base I, side-walls 2, a playing surface 3, and usually a top glass panel cover (not shown). At opposite ends the playing surface is provided with goals (above the lines 4 shown in FIG. I) in which the playing surface is apertured to allow a ball projected into the goal to pass out of play. The playing surface is also provided with conventional models of footballers (not shown) operable. by means (not shown) outside the table enclosure. by persons playing a game.

At one side of the table a lowermost storage space is formed between a partition 5 (FIG. 2) upstanding from the base I. and spaced from the box side-wall 2. The partition wall 5 extends parallel to the sidewall 2 nearly to opposite ends of the box where it is joined by the like partition walls 6. which are parallel to the endfrom outside. Means (not shown) are provided to prevent operation of the pull-rod 16 unless and until r eleased .by insertion of a coin or token. To the ends of the rod 12 are rigidly attached arms 17 extending through slots in the wall 5, between the outer ends of which arms is fixed a ball-lifting cross-bar 18, which when .not in useis accommodated in the stepped recess 8- ofthe base of the storage compartment (FIG. 2). Above the mouth of the storage compartment. between brackets 19 on the table side-wall 2, is supported by a .yieldable spring20 spaced from the edge of the partition 5 by a distance rather less than the diameter of-a ball. j Prior to play. all balls are located in the storage'compartment 8. When it is desired to play. the pull-'rod 16,

released by a coin or token, i s'withdrawnto rotate the rod 12, swing up the arms 17, and raise the bar 18 from its resess. lifting all the balls past the spring 20 (which yields to allow passage) so that they are discharged (as shown in dotted line in FIG. 2) over the lip of partition 5 on to the intermediate surface 9 along which they roll down to form a column along the narrow end of the convergent mid-limb passage between the guide walls 11, where there are provided means for delivering balls. one by one, to the playing surface 3.

Such means may comprise a cylinder 21 having its open upper end in register with a delivery aperture 22 in the playing surface 3, and having a side aperture 23 dimensioned to allow passage of a single ball. aligned with the delivery end of the guideway defined by the walls 11. A piston 24 slidable in the cylinder 21 is urged upwards by a compression spring 25., and can be moved downwards, compressing the spring (FIG. 3) by a lever 26 (FIG. 1) connected at one end to the piston through a slot 27 in the cylinder wall. and at the other end rigidly secured to a rod 28 rotatably mounted in the sidewall 2 of the. table, and operable by a press-lever 29 outside the table. Alternatively the spring may be a tension spring pulling down the piston, which can be raised by the levers. When the piston 24 is depressed or raised by the lever 26 rocked by the press-lever 29 (FIG. 3) a ball enters the cylinder'2l and rests on the piston 24 which, on release of the press-lever 29 is raised by the spring 25 to deliver the ball'on to the playing surface 3. The delivery aperture of the playing surface is provided with a hinged cover which re-closes after delivery of a ball to prevent re-entry of the ball. As seen in FIG. 4 the spring 25 serves as a stop to exclude balls from entering the cylinder, while extended, when, and after, delivering a ball to the playing surface.

If desired the ends of the rod 18 adjacent to its supporting-arms 17 may be fitted each with a radiallyprojecting spur or lug, to prevent balls from entering the storage space until the rod 18 is at the base of the recess 8, which can only occur when the pull-rod 16 is fully released and retracted into engagement with the spring to rock the lever 26 for ball delivery.

From the above description it will be seen that the invention provides a convenient table, with appropriate controls, for playing a game involving the use of balls, but it should be understood that the invention is not limited solely to the details of the form described above "which may be modified, in order to meet various conditions and requirements encountered, without departing from the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A table for playing a game with a plurality of balls normally used on at a time, comprising a storage space for all the balls after they have been lost from play; a

:lifting component located in the base of'the storage space and mounted between pivoted supporting arms rockable by a mechanism operable from outside the table to raise said component in the storage space in order to lift all the .balls assembled therein and deliver them simultaneously to a higher, intermediate surface,

on which the balls pass to a device actuable to deliver the balls one by one to a yet higher playing surface.

2. A table as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mechanism for transferring balls to the intermediate level is held inoperable by control means releasable by a coin or token.

3. A table as claimed in claim 1 comprising, in the playing surface. one or more apertures through which a ball is lost from play, communicating by one or more downwardly inclined paths with the ball-storage space.

4. A table as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ballstorage space is in the form of a channelled compartment in which the balls are assembled substantially in line.

5. A table as claimed in claim 1 comprising nonreturn stop means adapted to prevent balls from returning to the storage space after delivery to the intermediate surface.

6. A table as claimed in claim 5 wherein the nonreturn stop means is a yieldable spring.

7. A table as claimed in claim 1 wherein the intermediate surface is downwardly inclined for gravitational movement of balls, from the area of delivery of the balls and the storage space towards the means for delivering balls one by one into play.

8. A table as claimed in claim 7 wherein the passage for balls on the intermediate surface approaching the one-by-one ball-dispensing means is defined by convergent side walls so that the balls become aligned in a column.

9. A table as claimed in claim 8 wherein the means for delivering balls one by one for play comprise a pusher member reciprocable in a tubular guide or duct having in its side wall an opening through which a ball can enter the guide or duct.

10. A table as claimed in claim 9 comprising in the playing surface an inlet aperture for balls delivered for play, fitted with non-return stop means to prevent return of a ball therethrough; 7

11. A table as claimed in claim 9 wherein the pusher is spring-loaded and movable by a manually-operable mechanism.

12. A table as claimed in claim 11 wherein the pusher assembly serves to close the ball-inlet of the guide or duct, while delivering a ball into play, and until retracted to receive the next ball.

13. A table as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mechanism for rocking the arms is a pull-rod. 

1. A table for playing a game with a plurality of balls normally used on at a time, comprising a storage space for all the balls after they have been lost from play; a lifting component located in the base of the storage space and mounted between pivoted supporting arms rockable by a mechanism operable from outside the table to raise said component in the storage space in order to lift all the balls assembled therein and deliver them simultaneously to a higher, intermediate surface, on which the balls pass to a device actuable to deliver the balls one by one to a yet higher playing surface.
 2. A table as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mechanism for transferring balls to the intermediate level is held inoperable by control means releasable by a coin or token.
 3. A table as claimed in claim 1 comprising, in the playing surface, one or more apertures through which a ball is lost from play, communicating by one or more downwardly inclined paths with the ball-storage space.
 4. A table as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ball-storage space is in the form of a channelled compartment in which the balls are assembled substantially in line.
 5. A table as claimed in claim 1 comprising non-return stop means adapted to prevent balls from returning to the storage space after delivery to the intermediate surface.
 6. A table as claimed in claim 5 wherein the non-return stop means is a yieldable spring.
 7. A table as claimed in claim 1 wherein the intermediate surface is downwardly inclined for gravitational movement of balls, from the area of delivery of the balls and the storage space towards the means for delivering balls one by one into play.
 8. A table as claimed in claim 7 wherein the passage for balls on the intermediate surface approAching the one-by-one ball-dispensing means is defined by convergent side walls so that the balls become aligned in a column.
 9. A table as claimed in claim 8 wherein the means for delivering balls one by one for play comprise a pusher member reciprocable in a tubular guide or duct having in its side wall an opening through which a ball can enter the guide or duct.
 10. A table as claimed in claim 9 comprising in the playing surface an inlet aperture for balls delivered for play, fitted with non-return stop means to prevent return of a ball therethrough.
 11. A table as claimed in claim 9 wherein the pusher is spring-loaded and movable by a manually-operable mechanism.
 12. A table as claimed in claim 11 wherein the pusher assembly serves to close the ball-inlet of the guide or duct, while delivering a ball into play, and until retracted to receive the next ball.
 13. A table as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mechanism for rocking the arms is a pull-rod. 